Tree Permits in Hayward
Hayward requires a permit to remove listed native species (17 species) at 4″ diameter; redwood at 36″ diameter; any other species at 8″ diameter; 1 more protected class. Measured as trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required in some cases. Permit fee from $817. Verified October 9, 2026.
Last verified · fees checked · Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A, ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF
Hayward tree ordinance at a glance
| Code section | HMC Ch. 10, Art. 15 (repealed & replaced 2025, adopted 9/2/2025, eff. ~10/2/2025) |
|---|---|
| Protected trees | 17 listed native species at 4" DSH citywide (including single-family rear yards); non-native trees 8" DSH or more protected only on commercial property or in residential FRONT yards (10-15.14(2)); redwoods over 36" DSH (10-15.14(9)); street trees any size; development-approval trees any size. |
| Size threshold | 4" DSH (natives) / 8" DSH (non-natives, commercial property or residential front yards only) / 36" DSH (redwoods), diameter at 54" |
| Multi-trunk trees | Largest three trunks combined (B2-0) |
| Dead or hazardous trees | Permit approved upon evidence tree is dying/diseased/dead as confirmed by City Landscape Architect (10-15.26(1)), permit still required first; pruning branches >4" dia also needs permit (10-15.21(1)(i)) |
| Fire-safety removals | Expedited route. A protected eucalyptus, pine, acacia, tanoak or Italian cypress whose trunk is within 100 feet of a habitable structure or 30 feet of an evacuation road, or a tree in a high/very high fire severity zone that the Hayward Fire Marshal finds is an unmitigable risk, may be removed without first getting a permit, but a retroactive permit with photographs must be filed afterwards at no fee (HMC 10-15.26(2)(c)-(d)). Conditions: Either (c) species eucalyptus, pine, acacia, tanoak or Italian cypress with trunk within 100 ft of any habitable structure (including neighbours') or within 30 ft of a road necessary for emergency evacuation; or (d) tree within a CAL FIRE High/Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone plus a Hayward Fire Department Fire Marshal determination that the tree poses an increased risk and cannot reasonably be mitigated. source · all cities |
| Permit fee (FY 2026-27) | FY 2026-2027 Adopted Master Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026), Planning section item 36 'Tree Removal Permit': Annual Pruning Certification $817; Tree Removal Permit ≤2 trees $498 (fixed), 3-5 trees $996, 6-8 trees $1,245, ≥9 trees $1,000 deposit (T&M), Heritage Tree $1,000 deposit; Tree Pruning Permit ≤2 trees $249, ≥3 trees $747, Heritage Tree $498; work without permit 200% of tree permit fee. The city permit web page (last updated Dec 17, 2024) still states 'The application fee for a Tree Removal/Pruning Permit is $587.' fee schedule |
| Permit filing by this practice | $750 flat for one tree, $600 with an arborist report or if you post the notice yourself; city fee above is extra. e-Permit portal filing (pre-contact with the Landscape Architect, maps, ISA risk form if hazard-based) with a Director decision and no notice or posting. Have it filed. |
| Penalties for removal without a permit | Administrative fine = DOUBLE the permit fee (10-15.29(1)) + misdemeanor exposure; mitigation per 10-15.21(6): residential <=2 trees -> two 24" box per tree; 3+ trees/commercial/heritage -> ISA-appraised valuation |
| Arborist report | Sometimes required. HMC 10-15.21(4) (Ord. 25-09, adopted 9/2/2025): required (a) for development projects; (b) for proposed removal of a Heritage Tree, Memorial Tree, three (3) or more Protected Trees, or if requested by the Director; (c) for pruning permits removing more than one-third of canopy, non-ANSI A300 pruning, or if requested by the Director. Also 10-15.22(7): if a permit is sought on tree-risk grounds, 'an ISA tree risk assessment form must be included with the application' rated by an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Arborist. Replacement for 3+ residential trees is based on the valuation in the required arborist report (10-15.21(6)(c)(ii)). Who may write it: 'Certified Arborist' as defined by the ISA, including an ASCA Consulting Arborist (10-15.11); ISA TRAQ arborist for risk-based requests |
| Who to call | Landscape Architect / Development Services, 777 B St: (510) 583-4208; e-Permits portal · official page |
- : Fee schedule updated (FY 2026-27): FY 2026-2027 Adopted Master Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026), Planning section item 36 'Tree Removal Permit': Annual Pruning Certification $817; Tree Removal Permit…
Sources: hayward-ca.gov · library.municode.com. Urban Forestry Guide is not a city line; for Hayward permit questions use the department above.
Does my tree need a permit in Hayward?
A permit is required when the tree is protected and meets the size rule. Hayward measures trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above the ground.
- Listed native species (17 species): protected at 4″ diameter
- Redwood: protected at 36″ diameter
- Any other species on commercial property or in a residential front yard: protected at 8″ diameter (commercial property or residential front yard)
- Street or development-approval tree: protected at any size
Natives: 4" DSH citywide including rear yards. Non-natives: 8" DSH only on commercial property or in residential front yards (HMC 10-15.14(2)); a non-native in a residential rear or side yard is not regulated. Redwoods over 36" DSH (10-15.14(9)).
Check my tree in the permit checker
Street trees, city-designated heritage trees and trees required by a development approval are protected at any size in every city. Trees on lot lines belong to both owners.
Does Hayward require an arborist report?
Sometimes. HMC 10-15.21(4) (Ord. 25-09, adopted 9/2/2025): required (a) for development projects; (b) for proposed removal of a Heritage Tree, Memorial Tree, three (3) or more Protected Trees, or if requested by the Director; (c) for pruning permits removing more than one-third of canopy, non-ANSI A300 pruning, or if requested by the Director. Also 10-15.22(7): if a permit is sought on tree-risk grounds, 'an ISA tree risk assessment form must be included with the application' rated by an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Arborist. Replacement for 3+ residential trees is based on the valuation in the required arborist report (10-15.21(6)(c)(ii)).
Who may write it: 'Certified Arborist' as defined by the ISA, including an ASCA Consulting Arborist (10-15.11); ISA TRAQ arborist for risk-based requests.
“An arborist report is required in the following circumstances: a. For development projects. b. For proposed removal of a Heritage Tree, Memorial Tree, three (3) or more Protected Trees, or if requested by the Director.” municipal code
How to get a tree removal permit in Hayward
- Contact the City Landscape Architect (theo.spores@hayward-ca.gov, (510) 583-4208) with the project address(es) and a detailed description of the proposed removal or pruning before applying. source
- Register for an e-Permit Portal account at https://www.hayward-ca.gov/epermits and submit the Tree Removal/Pruning Permit application online with: existing tree name, size and location map; replacement tree name, size and location map (removal permits); arborist certification if pruning a Heritage Tree; HOA approval letter if the site is governed by an HOA; and the Owner Authorization Form if the applicant is not the property owner (tenants need the owner's written consent per 10-15.21(2)). source
- Attach an arborist report when required by HMC 10-15.21(4): for development projects; for removal of a Heritage Tree, Memorial Tree, three or more Protected Trees, or when requested by the Director; and for pruning permits removing more than one-third of the canopy or not conforming to ANSI A300. If the permit is sought on tree-risk grounds, an ISA tree risk assessment form rated by an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Arborist must be included (10-15.22(7)); a nesting bird survey is required for work in February-August (10-15.21(8)). source
- Pay the fee when staff contact you after submittal: the department page states 'The application fee for a Tree Removal/Pruning Permit is $587'; the FY 2027 Master Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2026) lists Tree Removal Permit fixed fees of $498.00 (2 or fewer trees), $996.00 (3-5 trees), $1,245.00 (6-8 trees), a $1,000.00 deposit for 9 or more trees or a Heritage Tree, and Tree Pruning Permit fees of $249.00 (2 or fewer trees), $747.00 (3 or more) and $498.00 (Heritage Tree). source
- The City Landscape Architect reviews the application and the Planning Director approves, conditionally approves or disapproves it on the findings in HMC 10-15.22 (e.g., severe decline/disease, High or Extreme risk rating, pest host, utility or infrastructure conflict, geological hazard); a dying, diseased or dead tree confirmed by the Landscape Architect qualifies under 10-15.26(1). Applicants are notified by email or can check status in the e-Permit Portal; processing typically takes about one week. source
- Plant the replacement trees approved by the City Landscape Architect (residential: two 24-inch box trees per tree removed for two or fewer removals; appraisal-based mitigation for three or more) or pay the in-lieu fee of 125% of appraised value before the tree removal permit is closed; replacement trees that die within three years must be replaced. source
- Permit validity: 'A tree removal or pruning permit issued shall be valid for a period of three (3) months from issuance, or, if an appeal is taken, three (3) months from the final decision. One (1) three-month extension may be permitted upon a written request and approval.' source
| Timeline | Department page: typically one week to process (excluding applicant revision time). No posting or public notice period in HMC Art. 15 for non-development permits. “Tree Removal/Pruning Permits typically take one week to process.” source |
|---|---|
| Appeal | HMC 10-15.28: the Planning Director's decision may be appealed to the Planning Commission under the appeals process in Sec. 10-1.2845 (Zoning Ordinance); Art. 15 itself does not state who may appeal or the filing deadline, and the department page (which still says appeals go to the Planning Director) gives no deadline either, so the appeal window is not published in the tree ordinance. “The decision of the Planning Director to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove an application may be appealed to the Planning Commission in accordance with the appeals process detailed in Section 10-1.2845.” source |
| Replacement | HMC 10-15.21(6): street trees on commercial properties, one 36-inch box street tree per protected tree removed; commercial non-street trees, mitigation by appraised value in the required arborist report. Residential: 'The removal of two (2) or fewer trees shall require two (2) replacement twenty-four-inch box trees per each tree removed, which must be planted on site'; 'Mitigation of three (3) or more trees shall be determined based on the valuation of the trees to be removed made in the required arborist report'; Heritage Trees, mitigation set by the Director up to full appraised value. Replacement species approved by the City Landscape Architect, no invasive species; replacements that die or are removed within three years must be replaced (maintenance period extends three more years). 10-15.21(7) in-lieu fee: where the Landscape Architect finds no on-site planting locations, 'the applicant may pay a fee of one hundred twenty-five (125) percent the appraised value of the tree(s) to be removed in-lieu of replanting on site', paid before closure of the tree removal permit for non-development projects. source |
| Forms | e-Permit Portal (online Tree Removal/Pruning Permit application) · Tree Removal/Pruning Permit page (submittal checklist) · Owner Authorization Form · FY 2027 Adopted Master Fee Schedule (Tree Removal Permit, item 36) |
Process verified October 9, 2026 against the city's code, forms and department pages.
Tips from an ISA Certified Arborist
The pruning-permit trigger catches most homeowners off guard: a permit is required to prune branches larger than 4 inches in diameter on a protected tree, or for any topping, pollarding, or lion-tailing (HMC 10-15.21), while deadwood removal and branches under 2 inches are exempt. Contact the Landscape Architect in Development Services ((510) 583-4208) first. Backyard native trees are protected at 4 inches DSH under the October 2025 ordinance, so verify before removal. Eucalyptus in the Hayward Hills is protected if on commercial property or in a front yard at 8 inches DSH or larger.
Arborist Notes: Hayward
Four inches, including the back yard
Hayward's 2025 ordinance protects 17 native species at 4 inches DSH anywhere on private property, rear yards included. DSH is diameter at 54 inches; multi-trunk trees add the three largest trunks. Coast live oak, valley oak, California bay and sycamore are on the list. Oaks in the canyon drainages east of Foothill Boulevard reach 4 inches young.
A pruning permit set by branch size
Hayward is unusual: the pruning trigger is branch diameter, not just the tree. Cutting a branch over 4 inches on a protected tree, or any topping, pollarding, lion-tailing or root-zone trenching, needs a permit. Most homeowners learn this after the limb is on the ground.
Hayward Hills eucalyptus
The eucalyptus groves in the Hayward Hills and Fairview were planted in the early 1900s and now stand 80 to 120 feet with heavy deadwood. Storms drop limbs onto roads and roofs; shed bark builds ground fuel. I recommend annual inspection and proactive crown cleaning rather than waiting for failure. Steep slopes and limited access push hillside costs 40 to 60 percent above flatland work.
When to call me
An arborist report is required to remove a heritage or memorial tree or three or more protected trees, and whenever the Director asks. Pruning permits that take more than one-third of the canopy need one too. A risk-based application must include an ISA tree risk assessment form from a TRAQ-qualified arborist.
Hayward neighborhoods: canopy, fire exposure and species
Tap a neighborhood for canopy cover, fire and pest exposure, and common species. Permit facts shown here come from the verified table above.
Select a neighborhood to explore its canopy profile.
Frequently asked questions about tree permits in Hayward
Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree in Hayward?
Permit approved upon evidence tree is dying/diseased/dead as confirmed by City Landscape Architect (10-15.26(1)), permit still required first; pruning branches >4" dia also needs permit (10-15.21(1)(i)) (verified 2026-10-09)
What is the fine for removing a tree without a permit in Hayward?
Administrative fine = DOUBLE the permit fee (10-15.29(1)) + misdemeanor exposure; mitigation per 10-15.21(6): residential <=2 trees -> two 24" box per tree; 3+ trees/commercial/heritage -> ISA-appraised valuation (verified 2026-10-09)
How long does a tree removal permit take in Hayward?
Department page: typically one week to process (excluding applicant revision time). No posting or public notice period in HMC Art. 15 for non-development permits. (verified 2026-10-09)
Does Hayward require an arborist report for a tree removal permit?
Sometimes required. HMC 10-15.21(4) (Ord. 25-09, adopted 9/2/2025): required (a) for development projects; (b) for proposed removal of a Heritage Tree, Memorial Tree, three (3) or more Protected Trees, or if requested by the Director; (c) for pruning permits removing more than one-third of canopy, non-ANSI A300 pruning, or if requested by the Director. Also 10-15.22(7): if a permit is sought on tree-risk grounds, 'an ISA tree risk assessment form must be included with the application' rated by an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Arborist. Replacement for 3+ residential trees is based on the valuation in the required arborist report (10-15.21(6)(c)(ii)). (verified 2026-10-09)
Can I remove a tree for fire safety in Hayward without a permit?
Expedited or fee-waived route. A protected eucalyptus, pine, acacia, tanoak or Italian cypress whose trunk is within 100 feet of a habitable structure or 30 feet of an evacuation road, or a tree in a high/very high fire severity zone that the Hayward Fire Marshal finds is an unmitigable risk, may be removed without first getting a permit, but a retroactive permit with photographs must be filed afterwards at no fee (HMC 10-15.26(2)(c)-(d)). (verified 2026-10-09)
How does Hayward measure a tree for the permit threshold?
Trunk diameter (DBH) at 54 inches above grade. 4" DSH (natives) / 8" DSH (non-natives, commercial property or residential front yards only) / 36" DSH (redwoods), diameter at 54" (verified 2026-10-09)
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Hayward?
Yes, if the tree is protected under Hayward's Tree Preservation Ordinance (HMC Ch. 10, Art. 15, rewritten effective October 2025). Protected trees include 17 native species at 4 inches DSH anywhere on private property, including backyards; non-native trees at 8 inches DSH on commercial properties and residential front yards; coast redwoods over 36 inches DSH; street trees; heritage and memorial trees; and replacement or development-required trees (HMC 10-15.14). DSH is trunk diameter at 54 inches above ground. Contact the City Landscape Architect in Development Services ((510) 583-4208) to determine if your tree is protected.
What trees are protected in Hayward?
Hayward rewrote its Tree Preservation Ordinance effective October 2025 (HMC Ch. 10, Art. 15). Protected trees now include 17 native species, including coast live oak, valley oak, blue oak, California bay, California sycamore, Pacific madrone, and three willows, at just 4 inches DSH anywhere on private property, including backyards; non-native trees at 8 inches DSH on commercial properties and residential front yards (invasive species excluded); coast redwoods over 36 inches DSH; street trees; memorial and heritage trees; and replacement or condition-of-approval trees (HMC 10-15.14). DSH is trunk diameter measured 54 inches (4.5 feet) above ground; multi-trunk trees are measured by adding the three largest trunks (HMC 10-15.11).
Do I need a permit to prune a tree in Hayward?
Under the ordinance in effect since October 2025, a pruning permit is required to cut branches greater than 4 inches in diameter on a protected tree, and for any pollarding, topping, lion-tailing, girdling, or digging/trenching within the tree protection zone (HMC 10-15.21(1)). Routine maintenance, meaning deadwood removal and pruning of live branches under 2 inches, requires no permit (HMC 10-15.11). Qualified tree companies can also obtain a one-year, non-site-specific annual pruning permit (HMC 10-15.24). Contact the City Landscape Architect in Development Services ((510) 583-4208) before starting significant pruning work.
What is the replacement requirement for removed trees in Hayward?
Replacement is size- and count-based, not 'like-kind': removing one or two protected trees on residential property requires planting two 24-inch box trees per tree removed, on site; removing three or more triggers mitigation based on the trees' appraised value; commercial street-tree removals require a 36-inch box tree each; heritage-tree mitigation can reach the tree's full appraised value (HMC 10-15.21(6)). Where on-site planting is infeasible, the city assesses an in-lieu fee of 125 percent of the appraised value (HMC 10-15.21(7)). Replacements that die within three years must be replanted.
What about eucalyptus trees in the Hayward Hills?
Large eucalyptus trees in the Hayward Hills are a frequent concern due to branch drop risk, fire hazard, and property damage potential. If the eucalyptus is in a front yard or on commercial property and is 8 inches DSH or larger (trunk diameter at 54 inches), it is protected; eucalyptus within 100 feet of a habitable structure or 30 feet of an evacuation road is a listed fire-risk species that may be removed first with a retroactive permit, photo documentation, and mitigation (HMC 10-15.26(2)). Many hillside eucalyptus removals require crane access due to their height (80 to 120 feet) and the steep terrain.
Are backyard trees protected in Hayward?
Yes, for many trees. Under the ordinance effective October 2025, the 17 protected native species are covered at 4 inches DSH anywhere on a single-family lot, including rear yards, as are coast redwoods over 36 inches DSH and heritage, memorial, replacement, and development-required trees. The 8-inch DSH non-native tier applies only to commercial properties and residential front yards. Always verify with the city before removal.
Tree permits in nearby cities
Berkeley · Dublin · Fremont · Oakland · Piedmont · Pleasanton
Compare all 56 cities in the 56-city ordinance table, or run the permit checker.
Not sure what Hayward will ask for?
A 20-minute call with an ISA Certified Arborist usually settles it: permit or no permit, report or no report, and what it will cost.